Some labels are appropriate. I am white, gay and Southern.
Politically, labels are irrelevant. What’s conservative, for instance, about supporting torture, or denying science? What’s liberal about downplaying the threat of radical Islam, or caving into politically correct thugs?
The divide between conservative and liberal once centered on the size of government. George W. Bush blurred that line. Trampled it, even. Each party, representing once-conflicting ideologies, supports big government (read: appeasing their donors). Partisan identification largely depends on which special interest groups you tolerate (teacher unions, or the religious right?) Reform is impossible, as the enablers from both parties collude to block it.
Neither side respects intellectual honesty. Love him (Bush) or leave it (the Republican Party). Same for the left (a liberal congressman sees signs of progress in Iraq and is targeted by a MoveOn.org ad campaign. That’s what happens when you stray from the talking points).
The lemmings are in control. Well-funded lemmings. The result: two Stepford candidates that will try, and fail, to woo the majority middle while not offending their intractable bases. Even if a superficially interesting candidate emerges, the respective orthodoxies won’t change, thanks to professional enablers and the dim mouthpieces dominating the airwaves.
It’s democracy by Al Davis: Just win, baby!
None of us can afford to be naive, or disinterested, any longer. Unfortunately, we live in a country where most people are naive and disinterested. And the rest just want to belong.
Advantage: the lemmings.
